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' ~ "" A LETTER 



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— OF 



ANDREW DICKSON WHITE, LL. D, 

RESIGNING THE PRESIDENCY OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY AND THE 
PROFESSORSHIP OF HISTORY, 

— WITH — 

RESOLUTIONS OF THE TRUSTEES, FACULTY AND 
ALUMNI OF SAID UNIVERSITY. 



JUNE 17TH, 1885. 



ITHACA, N. Y. 
1885. 






WSW YORK PUBL. LIBR, 
IN EXCHANGE. 



LETTER OF RESIGNATION. 



To the Board of Trustees of Cornell Universify. 

Gentlemen : 

The present meeting completes twenty years 
since, with our dear and venerated friend, Ezra Cornell, I took part 
in securing the charter of the University, submitted its plan of or- 
ganization, and entered this honorable Board. And now, in accord- 
ance with a purpose long since formed, I hereby present my resig- 
nation as President and Professor of History. 

In doing so allow me to thank you for the steady and hearty 
support you have given me during all these years, and to say that 
the labors and cares necessarily attendant upon such a formative 
period have been more than compensated by the kindness of 
Trustees, Faculty, Alumni, and Students. 

The University is at last in such condition that its future may 
well be considered secure. Thanks to your wise administration 
its endowment has been developed beyond our expectations, its 
debt extinguished, its equipment made ample, its Faculty in- 
creased until it is one of the largest and most effective in our 
country, and an undergraduate body brought together which by 
its numbers and spirit promises all that we can ask of the future. 

But whatever pride we may take in the growth of the institu- 
tion under our care, we have a far greater cause for satisfaction in 
the triumph here and elsewhere of those principles in which our 
University was founded and which, in some respects, it was the 
first to represent. Among the facts resulting from these principles 
may be named the consolidation of resources for higher educa- 
tion ; a closer union between the advanced and the general edu- 



— 4 — 

cational system of the State ; unsectarian control ; the equal 
eligibility of all candidates for trusteeships and professorships, 
irrespective of sectarian or partisan connections ; the presentation 
of various courses of study, each carefully framed to give a dis- 
cipline and culture suited to the different characters, needs, and 
aims of various classes of students ; the placing of all students in 
all courses on an equal footing as regards privileges ; the develop- 
ment, especially, of a well planned course in History and Political 
and Social Science adapted to the practical needs of men worthily 
ambitious in public affairs ; the more thorough presentation of 
the leading modern literatures, especially that of our own tongue ; 
full attention to technical studies both on the scientific and prac- 
tical side ; and, in general, the steady effort to abolish monastic 
government and pedantic instruction. All these ideas and ten- 
dencies of which our University has been a leading champion and 
for which it incurred in its early days much opposition and some 
obloquy, have now so far taken hold upon the leading American 
universities that their speedy and complete triumph is certain. 
• At two different periods when about to leave the country for a 
time I have placed my resignation in your hands, and you have 
not thought best to accept it. I now contemplate another absence 
from the country in obedience to what seems to me a duty, and 
must respectfully insist that my resignation be now finally ac- 
cepted. 

Although I have but reached what is generally known as the 
middle period of life, it seems my right, in view of the facts al- 
ready stated, to ask that the duties hitherto laid upon me be now 
transferred to another and that I be left free to take measures for 
the restoration of my health and strength and to carry out certain 
other plans of work to which I have for several years looked for- 
ward with longing, in the hope that they can be made eventually 
useful to the University and possibly to the public at large. 

In thus taking leave of an institution which has become very 
dear to me, permit me to suggest that there are many reasons why 
the Board should provide for the election of my successor at the 



earliest moment consistent with a proper choice. Whoever he 

may be, may I not also ask for him the same hearty support that 

has been extended to me ? 

With renewed thanks for these years of cooperation and support 

and for the personal friendship which has been extended to me in 

such full measure, 

I remain, 

Very respectfully and truly yours, 

ANDREW D. WHITE. 

Cornell University, 
June 17th, 1885. 



RESOLUTIONS. 



THE TRUSTEES. 



At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University 
held at Ithaca, June 17, 1885, the following memorandum and 
resolutions were unanimously adopted : 

The resignation by Andrew D. White of the Presidency of Cor- 
nell University becomes an era in its history. For twenty years he 
had devoted his best exertions, energy and industry, his large intel- 
lect and loyal zeal to the organization and growth of this institution. 
Hand in hand with its benefactor and founder, the project once 
conceived was pressed to a successful execution. Their dreams 
have been realized and their efforts crowned with noble and gener- 
ous results. 

How great the cares, anxieties and labors of Mr. White during 
those twenty years few, if any, can realize. How large and gener- 
ous his benefactions, equally bestowed on the University and its 
students, few will ever know. How bountifully he has created for 
us friends by his personal and social character, how great has been 
his influence in our behalf, has become a part of our history. 



During these twenty years the respect and affection of all con- 
nected with the University towards him have grown and strength- 
ed. The purity of his character, blamelessness of his life, his 
noble ambition, his generous and self-sacrificing devotion to the 
cause of education, his wisdom and kindness of heart, have made 
his name and his presence very near and dear to all his associates. 

It is a matter for congratulation that during this long period of 
time the utmost confidence has been extended to him by the Trus- 
tees as a body and the members as individuals. He has always 
had their generous support, his services have been by them highly 
appreciated, and mutual respect and esteem have always existed 
between the President and its members. 

The Trustees, in common with the public, deeply regret the per- 
sonal considerations which have made this resignation, as Mr. 
White believes, a matter of duty to himself. But it will always be 
a pleasant thought that regrets for such necessity are mutual, and 
that no unkind remembrances will accompany or follow the act. 

Let us hope that in the near future, after a period of needed 
change and rest, our honored friend may renew his relations to the 
University, in a more congenial and less exacting position, and 
give to us the prestige of his high character and attainments. 

Let us also hope that his successor may be able to follow in the 
path marked out by him and magnify the work so wisely begun 
and continued during the whole of his administration. There- 
fore, be it 

Resolved, that in consenting to accept President White's resig- 
nation, the Board not only sincerely regret the causes which prompt 
his separation from the chief office of the University as its intellec- 
tual teacher, adviser and friend, but that they trust and believe 
that his interest in its welfare will continue for all time to come. 

Resolved, that with this end in view we desire that he shall ac- 
cept the nomination of the Board to act as honorary President of 
the University. 

Resolved, that for the reasons set forth in his letter to the Board 
of Trustees, that the resignation of President White be accepted, 



the resignation not to take effect until the commencement of the 
next university year, in September, 1885. 

Resolved, that the Legislature of this State be and is hereby 
requested to amend the charter of Cornell University so as to make 
Andrew D. White, the first President of the University, a member 
of the Board of Trustees for life. 

Resolved, that the retiring President of the University be re- 
quested to sit for a portrait to be placed in one of the buildings of 
the University, and that the Executive Committee are hereby in- 
structed to make suitable provision for this purpose. 



THE FACULTY. 



At a special meeting of the Faculty of Cornell University con- 
vened on Wednesday afternoon, June 17, the following minute was, 
by unanimous vote, placed on record : 

We have read with deep emotion the letter of this date, in which 
President White resigns his positions as President and Professor^ 
History in this University. While we can bu^dmiuhe ju^ 
his claim to be released from the heavy labcflW^fflJB^im 
ofiices for nearly twenty years, it is impossible for us without 
to think of the sundeiinniA^^^lgl^liQIMiiiiiiyjtt^lasted sinj 
earliest existence of the 
the official life of every one 
tained with great wisdom and grea1 
enthusiasm, with constant self-sacrifice, and with'" 
for the sound growth and welfare of the University. 
to express to him our sense of the large and farseeing spiri 
which, in association with Ezra Cornell, he laid the foundations 
the University ; of the energy, sagacity and success with which, sur- 
viving his venerated associate, he has since wrought in buildmg up 
the University to its present prosperity ; of the generous attitude 
which he has maintained toward the Faculty in all matters of ad- 
ministration ; and of the strong and inspiring influence which he 



— 8 — 

has exerted upon the body of undergraduates and alumni. It 
would be a source of profound gratification to us if, while relieving 
himself of executive work, he would still consent to remain with us 
as a part of the teaching body; of the University, giving to us in our 
deliberations the benefit of his ripe experience, and to future classes 
of our students the same instruction and stimulation in historical 
work which have been enjoyed by all classes that have thus far been 
graduated from the University. In any event, we beg him to be 
assured that in retiring from the presidency, he bears with him not 
only our respect and gratitude, but our best wishes and our warm 
personal regard. 



THE ALUMNI. 



At the annual meeting of the Alumni, held at Ithaca on June 
17th, 1885, the following resolutions were adopted by a unani- 
mous and rising vote : 

'^hereas, it has been known to the associate alumni of Cornell 

ijty T>^^qr|^-|^ed in annual session, that it has seemed 

>ur iW^eOj^Sbident, Andrew D. White, to resign his high 

^' compelled thereto by imperative need of rest and watchful- 

^erhis h<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^_ 

^jociation, while deeply 
fpression and the inability of 
f, ao"nereby express our deep regret and 
That such a step has been found necessary. There 
led, however, with our sadness at his resignation, a thought 
'ngratulation to him and to ourselves when we bring to mind 
^the rounded completeness of twenty years of unselfish devotion to 
our University whose success and proud position are so largely 
owing to his jealous care and wise counselings. We would further 
express our joy that his valued counsel will yet remain to us and 
would all unite in the prayer that many years of usefulness may 
be vouchsafed to him. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESl 




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